It is an honor to have this opportunity to make this year a unique and a valuable experience for the Joseph George Middle School community. I am very excited to start the 2022-2023 academic school year by bringing together all stakeholder- students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members. With your active support and cooperation, in conjunction with our professional efforts, will ensure academic success for your students. Our goal is to provide each student with a challenging and rigorous 21^st century education by developing their critical thinking, creativity, communication skills, collaboration skills, while exploring the arts. Through visual and performing arts, students will be able to learn dance, music, singing and art techniques. Each area allows students to build self-confidence by performing, presenting or displaying art work.

I began my service with ARUSD in 2014, as an assistant principal at Ocala Middle School. I helped transform Ocala into what is now known as Ocala STEAM Academy. I served at OCALA for two (2) years, while supporting an exemplary set of educators in order to develop the campus into a state of the art academic facility. Ocala STEAM Academy hosts programs including MESA, AVID, Curated Pathways, and tech partnership. While focusing on improving the school culture through Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS).

In addition, I also served six (6) years as Principal at Cesar Chavez Elementary (2016-2022 academic years). I am pressed to highlight that we transformed Cesar Chavez Elementary by focusing on ways to better serve our students through the following:

• Specialization
• Guided Reading
• Balance Literary throughout all content areas
• Integration of Code to the Future (STEAM).
• PBIS – Silver and Gold Awards Recognition (state level)
• Restorative Justice Practices
• Incorporating YOUTH Positive curriculum (Social Emotional Learning).

My educational background highlights my commitment to being a lifelong learner through various educational settings. After graduating high school, I attended and earned an associate of arts degree in liberal arts from Santa Monica College. Thereafter, I transferred to UCLA where I earned my bachelor’s degree in sociology. Following, I then decided to pursue my professional endeavor in the area of education by earning a master’s degree in education, with an emphasizes in school counseling, from Loyola Marymount University. I entered the educational workforce as a teacher/school counselor, which I served for more than a decade. After serving in various educational leadership experiences, I then decided to attended San Jose State University, where I was able to complete the administrative service credential program. Most recently, I earned my educational doctorate degree in educational leadership for social justice from CSU East Bay. My research topic was on the impact of systemic reform in school counseling programs and school counselors.

As I look back on my own personal experiences, as a middle school student, I can recall the impact my middle school teachers and counselors had on me. I was involved in sports and music, which had an impact on my middle school life. I took part in the school band, jazz band, and marching band. I learned to play various instruments, the trumpet was my instrument of choice. Sports has been part of my life and in middle school I participated in wrestling, track and field. I continue to embrace the arts in any way I can and love that we have a visual and performing arts school that I can take pride in. 

I am honored to serve the Joseph George Middle School community.  My passion, educational and professional experiences drives my work ahead.  It is my belief that every student should have access to the full spectrum of academia and arts.  I look forward to my work with all stakeholders and the continued partnerships, which will drive Joseph George students to excellence.

In Service, 

Julio Villalobos, Ed.D.